Need to know

Maximum group size: 24 travellers

Entrance Fees: $40-50 USD not included

Your route

Itinerary

Day 1

Hanoi

Hanoi

Saturday. Welcome to Hanoi and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival you
will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The
rest of the day is free for you and your family to explore the city, with its
picturesque tree-lined avenues, scenic lakes, ancient pagodas and bustling
old town, all which are easily accessible by foot.

Day 2

Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay

Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay

Hanoi – Halong Bay. Take a moment to picture in your mind some two thousand
rugged karst islands dappled with lush vegetation seeming to float on top of
pristine emerald coloured waters and you have the natural wonder that is
Halong Bay. This morning a scenic drive will take us to this beautiful UNESCO
World Heritage Site where we will enjoy a junk boat cruise.
Based on traditional designs, these wonderful vessels combine oriental style
with modern luxury. Soak up the panoramic views from the sundeck as the boat
gently plies its course, opt for a swim in the divine waters or hop in a row
boat for a visit to 'Dark & Bright Lagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese
cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before an impressive seafood dinner
is served – delicious for even the pickiest of eaters!

Day 3

Hidden grottoes, Halong Bay

Hidden grottoes, Halong Bay

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Wake up to the peaceful serenity of Halong Bay this
morning, followed by a calming Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional
Vietnamese massage. After exploring a hidden grotto beneath towering cliffs,
we will sail to the port for our journey back to Hanoi.
Arriving back in the capital we will enjoy a cyclo (rickshaw) ride through
the famous Old Quarter, made up of an complex maze of intertwining alleyways
and backstreets lined with small houses, handicraft workshops and street food
vendors, for a quintessential Vietnamese experience. Later its back to the
hotel for some time to refresh and relax before heading to the trains station
in the evening to board our overnight journey (4 berth sleeper cabin, basic
standard) to Hue on the ‘Reunification Express’ railway line.

Day 4

Imperial Hue - Cycling

Imperial Hue - Cycling

Upon arrival to Hue we will make our way to the hotel for check-in and a
hearty breakfast in preparation for the day ahead. Gearing up we will hop on
our bikes for a cycle out to the old Imperial Citadel where we’ll discover
the Imperial Purple Palace, an exact copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing,
with its impressive ramparts, formal moats and imperial palaces, some of
which lay in ruin. We will then continue our bike ride 12 kilometres into the
countryside to the eccentric Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings. Here we’ll
view the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. If time
permits we will also cycle to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most iconic
landmarks in Hue.

Day 5

Road of the Ocean Clouds - Cycling

Road of the Ocean Clouds - Cycling

Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. Setting out in the early morning we
will take to the back roads on our bikes, cycling past rice fields, small
villages, colourful markets and fish farms en route to Thuan An Beach. Here
we will cycle along the coastal road, taking in Cemetery City and a village
famous for its fish sauce. After three hours of cycling we will arrive at
Phuoc Tuong Pass where transport will be waiting to take us to Lang Co beach
for lunch and some well-earned relaxation. After lunch we will continue on to
Hai Van Pass by transfer, taking in amazing views with time for a photo stop.
If you’d like to continue cycling we can hop back on our bikes and follow a
coastal road into Hoi An.
The charming, old-world trading port of Hoi An with it cobbled streets,
traditional homes and tiny shop houses is a perfect place to lose yourself in
a bygone era. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront,
delightful craft shops and artisans including some of Asia’s best bespoke
tailors (whose services come at a nominal price), all can be found here. Upon
arrival we will enjoy a short walking tour through its streets and in the
evening will enjoy the ambience of the town.

Day 6

Tra Que Village - Cycling

Tra Que Village - Cycling

A bicycle ride into the countryside, will take us to a local farm in Tra Que
village. Here, we discover age old farming practices and learn about
traditional medicine. It’s a hands on experience today where we’ll assist
with tending the fields and gardens by raking, sowing and watering greens.
Later we will cook a lunch made up of local delicacies and will enjoy our
culinary masterpiece while soaking up the clean air and country views.
Cycling back to Hoi An in the afternoon we will make a stop at Nhat tomb and
Ba Le well. Spend the rest of the day at your own leisure.

Day 7

My Lai, Beach & Port - Cycling

My Lai, Beach & Port - Cycling

Today we will venture off the beaten track on our bikes to discover the
day-to-day life of the local people here. Passing through fishing villages,
shrimp farms and rice paddy fields we will make our way to Bach Dang river
pier, where we’ll board a cruise of the stunning Thu Bon River.
Disembarking at Duyen Hai we will continue our journey by bike on back roads
through Binh Minh, Binh Dao and Binh Trieu to Tam ky town where we will stop
for lunch.
Later we will take a short bus ride to the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Area,
travelling over dirt tracks and paved roads through the countryside passing
through charming villages en route. We will continue on to Sa Ky Fishing Port
My Khe Beach and My Lai, where we’ll pay our respects at a memorial
dedicated to the villagers who lost their lives here during the Vietnam War.
After visiting the memorial and a museum we will head back to Hoi An by bus.

Day 8

Cruising the Mekong

Cruising the Mekong

Hoi An - Saigon. An early morning flight will take us to Saigon today, where
we will then continue on to the Mekong Delta by road. Known as the ‘Rice
bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong Delta is brimming with rice paddy fields,
colourful fruit orchards, enchanting villages and bustling floating markets.
Travelling by sampan from Vinh Long, we will cruise downstream through a maze
of waterways, witnessing the activity of everyday life along the way. Passing
colourful trading boats, house boats and children playing in the water, we
will stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn,
coco candies and paper along the way. Later we will enjoy lunch in a
traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.

Day 9

Mekong & Saigon

Mekong & Saigon

Can Tho - Saigon. This morning we will pay a visit to the colourful floating
market of Cai Rang. Here vendors have their boats piled high with goods, from
melons, pineapples and fresh greens, to sacks of rice and children’s toys.
Browse, barter and admire the hundreds of brightly coloured boats lining the
banks here before continuing back to Saigon by road.
Once called the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, old and new collide in this modern
city as gleaming sky scrapers, glamorous restaurants and designer shops stand
side-by-side with colonial era landmarks and post-war remnants. Here we will
enjoy a walking tour of the city taking in some of Saigon’s most famous
landmarks, including the impressive red-brick Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame
Cathedral, the central Post Office and the sobering War Remnants Museum.
Spend the remainder of the evening at your own leisure – Saigon has plenty
of fun to offer all ages!

Day 10

Saigon

Saigon

Monday. This morning is free for you to do some last minute shopping or
sightseeing before your departure transfer to the airport in the afternoon.
Why not opt for a relaxing foot massage, bargain for goods at Ben Thanh
Market or visit the grand Independence Palace.
Alternatively, those with a bit more time to spare can extend their stay and
opt to join us on a day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels, where there will be the
chance to explore a vast network of underground tunnels and hideouts that
were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Learn about booby traps,
climb through trap doors, or even test your skills with an AK 47 at the
firing range!